By Mary Sisk
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — Evangelina Jimenez set out to prove that she could thrive as a female artist in a male-dominated area, and she’s helping other female artists and entrepreneurs do the same thing.

Jimenez, the owner of Indigo in downtown Rockford, created Female Energy, an event that gives artists, musicians, makers and other creatives an opportunity to showcase their work. The event returns for its fifth year this weekend.

“When I first started in the art community (in) downtown Rockford, it was predominantly men,” Jimenez said. “I was very passionate about it because I had to prove to my parents that this is what I wanted to do.”

Jimenez opened her boutique, Indigo, 333 E. State St., last year and hosts multiple other female vendors in her store.

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While the name Female Energy might suggest it’s only for women, Jimenez encourages everybody to come and celebrate female business owners and artists at her event.

“As a female business owner, it was definitely a main priority to make it a fun, safe-space to highlight female vendors,” Jimenez said. “I like the inclusivity, even though it’s Female Energy.”

The event has grown over the past five years, starting off with 12 vendors in its first year and now featuring 70.

“This is my first year vending at Female Energy, but I went as a customer last year and it was amazing,” said Sophia Neuenschwander, owner of 815 Thrift and recent Hononegah High School graduate. “I find that at events like this, women are more supportive of each other, the vibes are awesome, and it’s an amazing platform to showcase local women-owned business.”

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While the event was always previously well attended, last year Jimenez was overwhelmed by the turnout with approximately 1,200 attendees.

“Last year was crazy,” Jimenez said. “It was amazing, everybody had a great turnout.”

Female Energy will showcase each vendor’s work, and it has food trucks, interactive photo booths, music and more festivities.

Jimenez, 24, also wants to encourage people to attend for the community aspect and to see more people socializing and supporting each other after the pandemic, which heavily impacted small business owners.

The link for donations to help support Female Energy found here and Jimenez is accepting sponsors for the event.

“If you cannot attend the event, though you should 100% come, make sure to share Indigo Rockford’s posts and spread the word,” Neuenschwander said.

Know before you go

Where: IBEW Local 364 banquet hall, 6820 Mill Road, Rockford

When: noon-6 p.m. on Sunday, June 26

Admission: $5, free entry for children 3 and younger

More information: Visit Indigo on Instagram @indigo.rockford and donate to support the event here

This article is by Mary Sisk. Email her at msisk@rockrivercurrent.com or follow her on Instagram at @maryrrcurrent